days
hrs
min
sec
Kali: The Timeless Goddess
Odissi Dance Theatre peformance by Soumee De
This Odissi dance theatre reimagines the origins of life through the lens of Mother Kali, the revered goddess in Indian mythology who symbolizes transformation and governs time (known as kala in Sanskrit). It explores the journey from birth to death, from earth to dust, and from ignorance to wisdom.
According to Kali-darshan (the philosophy of Kali), followers believe that life itself was conceived through the cosmic processes of Mother Kali. The name Kali is derived from the feminine form of Kala (time), signifying the ever-changing nature of existence—where time births, sustains, and eventually dissolves all things. Kali embodies liberation (moksha), and her transformative energy dissolves fear, granting ultimate freedom.
Soumee is a versatile dancer, teacher, and choreographer, trained in Odissi, Kathak, and Indian Theatre. Currently, she teaches Odissi at Apsaras Arts Academy while continuing her training under Guru Ratikant Mohapatra at Srjan, Bhubaneswar, and theatre under Guru Venu G at Natanakairali, Kerala. She also holds a Sangeet Prabhakar diploma in Kathak from Pracheen Kala Kendra.
As a co-founder of “Ethos – Exploring the Odissi Spirit,” a dance collective for Odissi performers, Soumee is dedicated to preserving and promoting the art form. She also conducts storytelling workshops for young audiences at The ARTGROUND. She has performed at numerous prestigious festivals, including Story Fest Singapore, the Darshana Series, SIFAS Festival, Bhaskareeyam, Shantanjali, and Artwalk.
Beyond the arts, Soumee is an accomplished professional with a degree in Economics, an MBA from XLRI, India, and over 20 years of experience as an HR leader in the banking industry across Asia. Her unique blend of artistic passion and professional expertise makes her a dynamic and inspiring figure in the performing arts community.